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as come to him from Throndhjem； from which he might expect help in making head against the king。 Then Fin represented to Hakon how much better it would be for him to accept of as high a dignity from the king as he himself could desire； rather than to attempt raising a strife against the king to whom he was owing service and duty。 He said if he came out of the conflict without victory； he forfeited life and property： 〃And even if thou hast the victory； thou wilt still be called a traitor to thy sovereign。〃 Earl Orm also supported Fin's speech。 After Hakon had reflected upon this he disclosed what lay on his mind； and said； 〃I will be reconciled with King Harald if he will give me in marriage his relation Ragnhild； King Magnus Olafson's daughter； with such dower as is suitable to her and she will be content with。〃 Fin said he would agree to this on the king's part； and thus it was settled among them。 Fin then returned to Throndhjem； and the disturbance and enmity was quashed； so that the king could retain his kingdom in peace at home； and the league was broken which Eindride's relations had made among themselves for opposing King Harald。
49。 OF THE COURTSHIP OF HAKON IVARSON。
When the day arrived for the meeting at which this agreement with Harald should be finally concluded； Hakon went to King Harald； and in their conference the king said that he； for his part； would adhere to all that was settled in their agreement。 〃Thou Hakon；〃 says he； 〃must thyself settle that which concerns Ragnhild； as to her accepting thee in marriage； for it would not be advisable for thee； or for any one； to marry Ragnhild without her consent。〃 Then Hakon went to Ragnhild； and paid his addresses to her。 She answered him thus： 〃I have often to feel that my father； King Magnus； is dead and gone from me； since I must marry a bonde； although I acknowledge thou art a handsome man； expert in all exercises。 But if King Magnus had lived he would not have married me to any man less than a king； so it is not to be expected that I will take a man who has no dignity or title。〃 Then Hakon went to King Harald and told him his conversation with Ragnhild； and also repeated the agreement which was made between him and Fin； who was with him； together with many others of the persons who had been present at the conversation between him and Fin。 Hakon takes them all to witness that such was the agreement that the king should give Ragnhild the dower she might desire。 〃And now since she will have no man who has not a high dignity； thou must give me such a title of honour； and； according to the opinion of the people； I am of birth； family and other qualifications to be called earl。〃
The king replies； 〃When my brother； King Olaf； and his son； King Magnus； ruled the kingdom； they allowed only one earl at a time to be in the country； and I have done the same since I came to the kingly title； and I will not take away from Orm the title of honour I had before given him。〃
Hakon saw now that his business had not advanced； and was very ill pleased； and Fin was outrageously angry。 They said the king had broken his word； and thus they all separated。
50。 HAKON'S JOURNEY TO DENMARK。
Hakon then went out of the country with a well…manned ship。 When he came to Denmark he went immediately to his relative； King Svein； who received him honourably and gave him great fiefs。 Hakon became King Svein's commander of the coast defence against the vikings； the Vindland people； Kurland people； and others from the East countries； who infested the Danish dominions； and he lay out with his ships of war both winter and summer。
51。 MURDER OF ASMUND。
There was a man called Asmund； who is said to have been King Svein's sister's son； and his foster…son。 This Asmund was distinguished among all by his boldness and was much disliked by the king。 When Asmund came to years； and to age of discretion； he became an ungovernable person given to murder and manslaughter。 The king was ill pleased at this； and sent him away； giving him a good fief； which might keep him and his followers well。 As soon as Asmund had got this property from the king he drew together a large troop of people； and as the estate he had got from the king was not sufficient for his expenses he took as his own much more which belonged to the king。 When the king heard this he summoned Asmund to him； and when they met the king said that Asmund should remain with the court without keeping any retinue of his own； and this took place as the king desired。 But when Asmund had been a little time in the king's court he grew weary of being there； and escaped in the night； returned to his former companions and did more mischief than ever。 Now when the king was riding through the country he came to the neighbourhood where Asmund was； and he sent out men…at… arms to seize him。 The king then had him laid in irons； and kept him so for some time in hope he would reform； but no sooner did Asmund get rid of his chains than he absconded again； gathered together people and men…at…arms and betook himself to plunder； both abroad and at home。 Thus he made great forays； killing and plundering all around。 When the people who suffered under these disturbances came to the king and complained to him of their losses； he replied； 〃Why do ye tell me of this？ Why don't you go to Hakon Ivarson； who is my officer for the land…defence； placed on purpose to keep the peace for you peasants； and to hold the vikings in check？ I was told that Hakon was a gallant and brave man； but I think he is rather shy when any danger of life is in the way。〃 These words of the king were brought to Hakon； with many additions。 Then Hakon went with his men in search of Asmund； and when their ships met Hakon gave battle immediately and the conflict was sharp； and many men were killed。 Hakon boarded Asmund's ship and cut down the men before his feet。 At last he and Asmund met and exchanged blows until Asmund fell。 Hakon cut off his head； went in all haste to King Svein and found him just sitting down to the dinner…table。 Hakon presented himself before the table； laid Asmund's head upon the table before the king； and asked if he knew it。 The king made no reply； but became as red as blood in the face。 Soon after the king sent him a message； ordering him to leave his service immediately。 〃Tell him I will do him no harm； but I cannot keep watch over all our relations （1）。
ENDNOTES： （1） This incident shows how strong； in those ages； was the tie of relationship； and the point of honour of avenging its injuries the clanship spirit。 L。
52。 HAKON IVARSON'S MARRIAGE。
Hakon then left Denmark； and came north to his estates in Norway。 His relation Earl Orm was dead。 Hakon's relations and friends were glad to see Hakon； and many gallant men gave themselves much trouble to bring about a reconciliation between King Harald and Hakon。 It was at last settled in this way； that Hakon got Ragnhild； the king's daughter； and that King Harald gave Hakon the earldom； with the same power Earl Orm had possessed。 Hakon swore to King Harald an oath of fidelity to all the services he was liable to fulfill。
53。 RECONCILIATION OF KING HARALD AND KALF。
Kalf Arnason had been on a viking cruise to the Western countries ever since he had left Norway； but in winter he was often in the Orkney Islands with his relative； Earl Thorfin。 Fin Arnason sent a message to his brother Kalf； and told him the agreement which he had made with King Harald； that Kalf should enjoy safety in Norway； and his estates； and all the fiefs he had held from King Magnus。 When this message came to Kalf he immediately got ready for his voyage； and went east to Norway to his brother Fin。 Then Fin obtained the king's peace for Kalf； and when Kalf and the king met they went into the agreement which Fin and the king had settled upon before。 Kalf bound himself to the king in the same way as he had bound himself to serve King Magnus； according to which Kalf should do all that the king desired and considered of advantage to his realm。 Thereupon Kalf received all the estates and fiefs he had before。
54。 FALL OF KALF ARNASON。
The summer following （A。D。 1050） King Harald ordered out a levy； and went to Denmark； where he plundered during the summer； but when he came south to Fyen he found a great force assembled against him。 Then the king prepared to land his men from the ships and to engage in a land…fight。 He drew up his men on board in order of battle； set Kalf Arnason at the head of one division； ordered him to make the first attack； and told him where they should direct their assault； promising that he would soon make a landing with the others； and come to their assistance。 When Kalf came to the land with his men a force came down immediately to oppose them； and Kalf without delay engaged in battle； which； however； did not last long； for Kalf was immediately overpowered by numbers； and betook himself to flight with his men。 The Danes pursued them vigorously； and many of the Northmen fell； and among them Kalf Arnason。 Now King Harald landed with his array； and they soon came on their way to the field of battle； where they found Kalf's body； and bore it down to